Compound kailroad-axle



H. J. LOM BAERT.

Car-Axle.

Patented June 7, 1859.

Inventor,

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Witnesses unirse s'ra'rns raannr orrion.

H. J. LOMBAERT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

YooivrroUND RAILROAD-Axim Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,315,dated June 7, 1859;

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, H. J. LOMBAERT, of the city of Philadelphia, in theState of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inCombination-Axles for Railway-,Cars and Locomotives; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation of the same, ref'- erence being had tothe annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to overcome, in a better manner, theretarding force of the wheels and torsion of their connecting axles,from the unequal travel of the said wheels, when there is either anyslight difference in their diam-eters, or in the lengths of therespective rails upon which they move-as in rounding curves, &c.

It consists in the peculiar manner, hereinafter described, of combiningtogether a divided, tubular axle, having the wheels fixed thereon, and asolid undivided centerpiece or mandrel: whereby the two parts of thesaid tubular axle are secured together so as to rotate ,independentlyof, and out of contact with, each other, the outer ends of the saidtubes projecting through the wheels so as to form their journals.

In the drawing, A and A, represent the two tubular parts of the axle; Band B their respective wheels; and C, the solid center or mandrel. Eachof the two parts of the axle (A and A) is a cylindrical tube, and isfixed perpendicularly, in the usual manner, in the center of itsrespective wheel so as to project on each side of the same and form onthe outer side the usual ournal for supporting the car, and, on theinner side, an elongation whose end enters into one of the annulargrooves, d or d, which are made in the ends of the collar, c, which isfixed in the middle of the mandrel, C. The said mandrel is a smoothlyturned, cylindrical, solid piece which fits and also receives the twotubular parts (A and A) over its ends, and has its central enlargementor collar (c) constructed and fixed thereon so as to produce, aroundbetween it and the mandrel proper, the annular grooves (CZ .and CZ),before mentioned, for the reception of the inner ends of the said tubesA and A) substantially as shown in the drawings-and also for thereception of one or more intermediating collars, when the same may berequired as hereinafter explainedthe outer ends of the mandrel beingeach flush, or nearly so, with the outer ends of the respective parts (Aand A) of the axle, when the same are applied thereon as described, and.also reduced in diameter at these parts so as to receive thereon thescrew-nuts or collars (f and f)-the inner side of each outer end of thetwo tubular parts (A and A) being also cut away `sufficiently to admitof the A said nuts being made a little larger in their diameters thanthe mandrel (C), and in' serted therein for the purpose of securing thesaid two parts (A and A) of the axle in their proper positions around onthe said mandrel, as shown .in the drawing; and, to prevent the saidnuts and f) from unscrewing by the frictional action of the ends of therotating axle thereagainst, a jam screw-bolt, g or g, is fitted intotherespective ends of the mandrel (C) so that it can be brought up firmlyagainst the said nuts (f and f) substantially as shown in the drawing.

It will readily be perceived that as, in this combination axle, thewheels are secured upon the tubular parts (A and A which project so asto form the journals upon which the car bears for support, the saidwheels must rotate thereon independently of each other; and so, the axlebe protected from any torsional strain-and, consequently, the car fromany retarding force of the wheels arising from the unequal travel towhich such wheels are subjected from any inequality in their diameters,and especially from curves in the railway. It will also be perceivedthat when there is no inequality stead of the mandrel-the small amountof friction arising from the combination, bears no proportion, scarcely,to the retarding force which would result were the wheels rigidly i'ixedtogether, as in the common mode of constructing car and locomotiveaxles.

Another important advantage peculiar to'.

the mode herein described of constructing a combination axle is, that itaiords a ready mode of adjustingrthe wheels to tracks of differentwidths; as all that is required, is

the insertion of ya collar or collars in the grooves (d and al( in themiddle, and of collars of corresponding thicknesses, between theshoulders of the am screw-bolts and the screw nuts on the ends of themandrel, to produce an increase in the distance between the wheels B andB. Besides, a combination axle constructed in the manner described herenis as practical and strong, (if not stronger), for railway purposes, asthe common single axle.

I am aware that the two Wheels have been secured upon respective tubesslipped over van undivided axle so as to rotate thereon independent-lyof each other-fthe saidaxle projecting through the tubes on the outerside of the wheels so as to orm'their journals; and also, that thewheels have been made to rotate upon the shaft, independently of eachother, by fixing one wheel upon a tube adapted to slip over and rotateupon a. reduced half of the length of the axle andleaving the end of thelatter pro-` j ecting for its journal, while the other wheel is fixedtothe opposite end of the axle itselfas in Garret & Meakles patent ofSeptember 28th 1858. I therefore do not` claim either of the said modesof constructing anV axle for cars or locomotives; but,

Having herein fully described the construction and Voperation of myimproved combination axle and pointed out its superior utility, what Iclaimas new therein and of my invention, and desire to `secure byLetters Patent isj The divided, tubular-axle (A and A and the solid,undivided, center-piece or mandrel (C), when the same are constructedand combined togetherv with each other and with the wheels (B and B) sothat the two said tubular parts (A and A) shall project through theirrespective wheels and` form their journals, and also rotate outofcontact and independently of each other-substantially in the manner andfor the purposes set forth and described.

HERMAN J. LOMBAERT. Witnesses:

WM. RIGE V RICBD. J. I-IUGHES. y

